Harlow [Blu-ray]

Director: Gordon Douglas Gordon Douglas

Overview

Of the two competing Jean Harlow biopics released in 1965, producer Joseph E. Levine's Harlow is the more slickly professional, though neither film is exactly a cinematic landmark. Carroll Baker plays 1930s "platinum blonde" Jean Harlow, who, in keeping with the portrait painted by biographer Irving Schulman and Arthur Landau (upon whose book this film is based) was a forlorn waif tossed around like a football by the predatory males of wicked old Hollywood. Prodded by a hellish stage mother (Angela Lansbury) and an implicitly incestuous stepfather (Raf Vallone), Harlow rises to the pinnacle of movie stardom but never finds true happiness. The wedding-night revelation that her new husband, producer Paul Bern (Peter Lawford), is impotent is just another devastating blow for the poor girl. After all she goes through in the film, Harlow's premature death at age 26 is almost a relief. The only person who truly, deeply, sincerely cares about her is her lovable agent Arthur Landau (played by lovable Red Buttons) who, it will be remembered, co-authored the original Harlow book. Movie buffs will derive some perverse pleasure by the script's many distortions of the facts. Whatever its shortcomings, Harlow posted a huge profit for Joe Levine and Paramount Pictures.

Product Details

Release Date:	07/23/2013
UPC:	0887090068901
Original Release:	1965
Rating:	NR
Source:	Olive
Language:	English
Time:	2:05:00
Sales rank:	19,170

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Carroll Baker	Jean Harlow
Angela Lansbury	Mama Jean Bello
Raf Vallone	Mario Bello
Red Buttons	Arthur Landau
Martin Balsam	Everett Redman
Michael Connors	Jack Harrison
Peter Lawford	Paul Bern
Leslie Nielsen	Richard Manley
Mary Murphy	Studio Secretary
Hanna Landy	Mrs. Arthur Landau
Peter Hansen	Assistant Director
Kipp Hamilton	Girl at Pool
Peter Leeds	Director of '30s

Technical Credits

Gordon Douglas	Director
Joseph E. Levine	Producer